Patents Issued in January 9, 2018
  • Patent number: 9863429
    Abstract: A rotor assembly having a shaft, a bearing assembly, an impeller and a shroud. The impeller and the bearing assembly are mounted to the shaft, and the shroud is mounted to the bearing assembly so as to cover the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: David Michael Jones, Geoffrey Michael Burlington
  • Patent number: 9863430
    Abstract: An air compressor for a fuel cell vehicle includes a volute housing, an impeller mounted to the volute housing, and a motor driving the impeller and cooling the motor and bearings that support a rotation shaft of the motor using air at an outlet side of the impeller. The air compressor has a cooling unit including: a coolant channel provided in plural along a radial direction in a motor housing that is coupled to the volute housing and through which a coolant flows; and a cooled air channel formed between coolant channels of the motor housing and through which the air flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Changha Lee
  • Patent number: 9863431
    Abstract: A hybrid magnetic suspension of a rotor (1) having compressor wheels (2, 3) having permanent magnets (104, 114) integral to shrunk fit rings (8, 18) arranged on the rotor (1) in the vicinity of the compressor wheels (2, 3), permanent magnets (124, 134) integral to stationary rings (23, 33) coaxially arranged with the rotor (1) and associated with a resilient material (5, 15) to define a passive radial magnetic bearing, coils (6, 16) associated with magnetic armatures (10, 20) and facing rotor parts (7, 17) being located perpendicularly to the rotor (1), and axial sensors (60, 160) configured for sensing the axial position of the rotor (1) and control means (200) configured for feeding the coils (6, 16) as a function of the outputs of the axial sensors (60, 160) for generating both axial bearing forces and a motor torque and thereby being adapted for defining an axial bearingless motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SKF MAGNETIC MECHATRONICS
    Inventors: Joaquim Da Silva, Yves Dupuis, Olivier Lemarchand, Lateb Ramdane, Erwan Salahun, Ulrich Schroeder
  • Patent number: 9863432
    Abstract: A method for filtering a fluid that includes collecting contaminates in the fluid, passing the fluid from inside an internal cavity of a first shaft through a tight clearance at a spline connection between the first shaft and a second shaft such that the fluid is filtered of contaminates as a result of the tight clearance, and delivering the filtered fluid to a delivery location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Steven A. Heitz, Keith E. Short
  • Patent number: 9863433
    Abstract: The propeller fan includes a boss including a rotation axis, a plurality of blades formed on an outer periphery of the boss, and a bellmouth arranged so as to surround the plurality of blades at a trailing edge side of each of the blades. Each blade has a bending portion that bulges toward an upstream side of the air current in a cross-sectional shape in a radial direction, and a bend of the bending portion of the blade at an inner side of the bellmouth is set to be gentler than a bend of the bending portion of the blade at an outer side of the bellmouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahide Tadokoro, Yasuaki Kato, Atsushi Kono
  • Patent number: 9863434
    Abstract: A fin array is disclosed for use in a centrifugal fan having a housing and a fan wheel, the fin array having: a first tube in a first plane perpendicular to an axis of the fan wheel; a second tube in a second plane parallel to the first plane; and a fin in a third plane parallel to the first plane. The fin is sandwiched between the first tube and the second tube, all of which partially surround the axis of the fan wheel. The fin comprises a slotted fin apparatus for permitting condensate to move from a region between the fan wheel and the first tube to a region between the first tube and the housing. The slotted fin apparatus has a first cutout disposed between a first extension and a second extension along at least a portion of the length of the fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Steven C. Elsner
  • Patent number: 9863435
    Abstract: A fan unit (2) includes a fan housing (3), a fan motor (5) provided in the fan housing, and a partition plate (4) that is attached to a partition plate attachment surface (6a) of the fan housing and that regulates air flow from the fan motor. A protrusion portion (7) is provided on the partition plate attachment surface of the fan housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaki Miura
  • Patent number: 9863436
    Abstract: A pump housing has a spiral housing and includes a suction channel (14) which runs out in a space (15). The space (15) is for arranging an impeller (6), rotatable about a rotation axis (5), and includes a spirally peripheral channel (16) open to the space (15) and running out into a pressure channel. A receiver (20) for a differential pressure sensor is provided within the pump housing. A first sensor channel (22) is provided, which connects the receiver (20) to a pressure-side interior of the pump housing. A second sensor channel (23) connects the receiver (20) to the pressure-side interior of the pump housing. The receiver (20) for the differential pressure sensor is arranged between the spirally peripheral channel (16) and the suction channel (14), so that the channels can be formed by way of simple bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GRUNDFOS HOLDING A/S
    Inventors: Casper Pedersen, Nicholas Pedersen
  • Patent number: 9863437
    Abstract: The present invention provides a ventilating fan. In the ventilating fan, first and second flangings are extended outwards from vertical side edges and horizontal side edges of the air inlet of the adapter respectively, outer edges of the first flangings are firstly bent to form both side surface, and then edges of the both side surfaces are bent to form edge surfaces, and the first flangings, the side surfaces, and the edge surfaces confine open grooves; protrusions are disposed on an outer periphery of the air inlet, and a slot is formed between the protrusion and the first or the second flanging; and first folded sheets are extended outwards from both vertical side edges of the air outlet of the casing; and an edge of the air outlet of the frame abuts against and is clamped in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignees: PANASONIC ECOLOGY SYSTEMS GUANGDONG CO., LTD., PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yefan Weng, Zhengnan Zeng, Shouyong Gao, Bodong Zhong, Daisuke Tsubosa
  • Patent number: 9863438
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for attaching a fan to a wall at various locations using an adjustable mounting plate and support for an adjustable mounting plate. The method disclosed herein allows a user to affix a fan to the adjustable mounting plate on a wall at a multitude of different heights desired by the user and to further re-affix to a new desired height both quickly and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Arthur Kinzli
  • Patent number: 9863439
    Abstract: An annular backing plate for a diffuser in a centrifugal compressor comprises an inner diameter and an outer diameter disposed radially opposite the inner diameter. The backing plate also includes a first surface extending between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the backing plate. A step is formed on the first surface proximate the inner diameter, wherein the step shifts a portion of the first surface encompassed by the step axially aft relative a portion of the first surface not encompassed by the step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Seth E. Rosen, David A. Dorman, Craig M. Beers
  • Patent number: 9863440
    Abstract: Submersible pump which comprises: a first motor provided with a first outlet shaft; a pumping body in which an impeller is housed that is fixed to the first outlet shaft of the first motor and drivable by the latter in order to pump a process fluid from a suction mouth to a delivery mouth of the pumping body itself; a support casing fixed to the pumping body and provided, at a lower end thereof, with an inlet opening through which a flow of the process fluid is susceptible to enter into the support casing itself; a dispersion head arranged at the lower end of the support casing and drivable in order to remove detrital material, which is conveyed by the flow of the process fluid into the inlet opening of the support casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: DRAGFLOW S.R.L.
    Inventors: Stefano Pol, Mariano Gardoni, Mario Sauro
  • Patent number: 9863441
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes an air flow generator for generating an air flow, which encompasses a first suction flow through a first suction line, which is arranged in flow direction of the air flow upstream of the air flow generator and which leads into a first collecting container, and a pressure flow in a pressure line, which is arranged in flow direction of the air flow downstream from the air flow generator. Using a Venturi nozzle, the air flow generates a second suction flow, which is separated from the first suction flow, through a second suction line, which leads into a second collecting container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventors: Nazli Eidmohammadi, Alexander Siegfanz, Christian Stehl, Sabrina Hoffmann, Miron Sernecki
  • Patent number: 9863442
    Abstract: An aspirator system is disclosed comprising a collapsible/extendable aspirator air channel, wherein a burstable seal for entrapping air across the exit channel is provided, wherein said entrapped air creates a pressure causing the aspirator to extend to its extended state, whereupon the seal bursts and opens the air channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nick Ruegsegger, Helperus Ritzema Rautenbach
  • Patent number: 9863443
    Abstract: A multistage ejector has a nozzle arrangement, which has at least three nozzles which are arranged in series in the direction of a longitudinal axis, wherein the nozzles are designed for passage of a throughflow of a fluid, wherein a fluid gap is provided between adjacent nozzles in each case, wherein at least two of the at least three nozzles are interconnected monolithically to form a nozzle string, and wherein the nozzle string is arranged at least partially in a sleeve and the nozzle string and the sleeve are detachably fastened to each other. The nozzle string and the sleeve are axially fastened to each other by fastening mechanism which acts in a positively locking manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: J. SCHMALZ GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Kaupp, Tobias Stahl, Walter Dunkmann
  • Patent number: 9863444
    Abstract: A hydraulic energy recovery system (101) has an output drive unit (103), which can be actuated by a driver (102), and by which a hydraulic motor-pump unit (104) can be driven. In at least one energy feed position, the motor-pump unit supplies an energy storage device (106) and/or working hydraulics (107) with fluid. In a recuperation position, the motor-pump unit discharges fluid under pressure from the energy storage device (106) at least to the working hydraulics (107) and/or is used to actuate the output drive unit (103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HYDAC TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventor: Mikko Erkkila
  • Patent number: 9863445
    Abstract: A fluid reservoir comprises a first compartment, a second compartment, a port, a drain, and a tube. The port is fluidly connected to the first compartment and positioned at a port height. The drain is fluidly connected to the first compartment and the second compartment. An entrance to the drain is positioned in the first compartment at a drain entrance height which is lower than the port height. The tube is fluidly connected to the first compartment and the second compartment. An entrance to the tube is positioned in the first compartment at a tube entrance height which is higher than the drain height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Micheal E. Barr, Brian K. Kellogg, Bradley A. Mann
  • Patent number: 9863446
    Abstract: A triple piston fluid pressure cylinder is disclosed with a parallel arrangement of the pistons that allows a combination of the first two stages of the cylinder into one stage so that the first two stages of the cylinder are working into the same common space. As the result of that arrangement the overall length of the triple pistons cylinder is reduced by a significant amount. The saved length may be used to increase the stroke of the cylinder. The piston body assembly is built around the piston arrangement, and is composed of a cylinder tube with one head end cover and one rod end cover and one middle fixed pistons. The middle fixed piston is extended through an extension tube to an extension fixed piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Ilie Vela
  • Patent number: 9863447
    Abstract: An input piston connected to a brake pedal and an output piston which is moved forward to increase a hydraulic pressure in a pressure chamber are fitted to each other telescopically, and an engaging spring is provided between the input piston and the pressure chamber. The output piston is moved forward relative to the input piston by a hydraulic pressure in a rear chamber while compressing the engaging spring. Since a set load of the engaging spring is set at a small value, the output piston is moved forward relative to the input piston in an initial period of a braking operation, making it possible to reduce a stroke of the input piston which is required for a hydraulic pressure in brake cylinders to reach a first set pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isono
  • Patent number: 9863448
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for a construction machine, capable of enhancing the effect of reducing a pressure loss due to return oil from a head-side chamber of a hydraulic cylinder, with a simple structure. The circuit includes a hydraulic cylinder, a control valve, a return pipeline, and a tank direct-communication line providing direct communication between the control valve and a tank separately from the return pipeline. The control valve has a flow path leading return oil from a head-side chamber of the hydraulic cylinder to the tank direct-communication line and a flow path leading return oil from a rod-side chamber of the hydraulic cylinder to the return pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Ueda
  • Patent number: 9863449
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for a working machine includes a hydraulic actuator and a first hydraulic machine for supplying fluid to the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic system further includes a hydraulic transformer for supplying fluid to the hydraulic actuator in parallel with the first hydraulic machine, and an accumulator for fluid. The hydraulic transformer includes a first port and a second port and the transformer is adapted to transform a first pressure and a first flow at the first port to a second pressure and a second flow at the second port. The second port of the hydraulic transformer is in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator and the first port is in communication with the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Kim Heybroek, Roland Wiktor
  • Patent number: 9863450
    Abstract: A hydro-mechanical device for providing tactile feel curve shaping, including: a housing; a fluid displacing element; and, a preloaded flow regulating assembly operatively connected to the housing. The housing has a working fluid chamber formed therein, the working fluid chamber containing working fluid. The fluid displacing element is positioned within the working fluid chamber. The fluid displacing element divides the working fluid chamber into at least two cavities upon which fluid is transferred upon movement of the fluid displacing element. The flow of the working fluid is controlled through the preloaded flow regulating assembly in accordance with a custom force profile combining a controlled velocity dependent force component and a controlled resisting force component which opposes an applied force at a controlled maximum threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Koschel, Ryan D. Fleming, Andrew M. Wright, Paul D. March, Ryan P. Dermawan
  • Patent number: 9863451
    Abstract: A mechanical fitting for connecting structures may include a base structure and a plate member. The mechanical fitting may also include a support structure for supporting the plate member at a predetermined spacing from the base structure. The support structure may include a truss structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert Erik Grip, Michael Kirtland Hughes, Daniel Joseph Bazile
  • Patent number: 9863452
    Abstract: A method for attaching a first object of a first material to one or more second objects of dissimilar second materials without any bonding material is provided. Anchoring elements are positioned at opposing sections of the first object. A tension assembly is positioned substantially at a mid-section between the opposing sections on a rear surface of the first object. One or more tension bearing members are connected to one or more second objects positioned at one or more of the opposing sections on a front surface and/or the rear surface of the first object, via the anchoring elements. Front ends of the tension bearing members extending at the opposing sections on the rear surface of the first object are operably connected to the tension assembly. The tension assembly generates a tension in the extended tension bearing members to attach the objects made of dissimilar materials to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Timothy Martin Lincoln
  • Patent number: 9863453
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing silicon seed rod in which two silicon seeds are joined into one long silicon seed rod by mechanical coupling. A mechanical seed coupler is a body in having an outer wall, an upper surface with an upper aperture, a lower surface with a lower aperture, and an inner wall surrounding an inner space. The mechanical seed couple can be of a shape including a cylinder shape, an elliptical tube shape, a rectangular tube shape and a square tube shape. Furthermore the mechanical seed coupler can be of unitary construction, made from one solid piece of material, or it can be composed of subparts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Polycrystalline Silicon America Corporation (MIPSA), MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Lovorn, Larry Gurley
  • Patent number: 9863454
    Abstract: An elastically averaging alignment and retention system for a sealable compartment includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first alignment member and an elastically deformable alignment element fixedly disposed with respect to the first alignment member, the elastically deformable alignment element having an elongated hollow tube. The second component includes a second alignment member and an alignment feature fixedly disposed with respect to the second alignment member, the alignment feature having a blind-end pocket. The elastically deformable alignment element is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage the alignment feature. Portions of the elastically deformable alignment element when inserted into the alignment feature elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns the first component relative to the second component in at least two of four planar orthogonal directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Morris, Christopher J. Georgi, Jennifer P. Lawall, Gordan N. Noll
  • Patent number: 9863455
    Abstract: A pin joint assembly for an aircraft landing gear having an elongate joint pin; at least one first lug through which the joint pin passes; and at least one second lug through which the joint pin passes. The joint pin assembly includes first and second retaining elements located at opposite ends of the joint pin and arranged to maintain the location of the joint pin relative to the first and second lugs. At least portion of the pin joint assembly is elastically deformable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Safran Landing Systems UK LTD
    Inventor: Chris Green
  • Patent number: 9863456
    Abstract: A device for compensating the offset in automatic locking systems for the mounting of blanks comprising a box-like body composed of a T-shaped hollow body and a U-shaped base, which form an inner seat for a frustum-shaped jacket, which is arranged coaxially to the shank of the hollow body and above a piston, which can move transversely to the shank, a traction element being slideably arrangeable in the shank of the hollow body, the traction element cooperating selectively with balls which can be accommodated within openings provided in the shank and within second seats provided on the jacket, elastically compressible elements being arranged between the head of the hollow body and the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Almerino Canuto
  • Patent number: 9863457
    Abstract: A direct tension indicating washer including an annular body with a central hole, one or more protuberances, and one or more indentations. The one or more protuberances are integral with the annular body, and struck and partially sheared from the annular body to project from a first face of the annular body and leave the one or more corresponding indentations in a second face of the annular body opposite the first face. The one or more indentations are offset from the one or more protuberances and located farther from the central hole of the annular body than the one or more protuberances. By offsetting the protuberances and indentations, the washer is strengthened and is more suitable for use in joint assemblies having enlarged or oversized holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TurnaSure LLC
    Inventors: F. Jonathan M. Turner, David L. Sharp
  • Patent number: 9863458
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a three-piece self-reacting fastener, or lock nut, for connecting a joint having a threaded connector including: a first nut member engageable with the threaded connector and axially displaceable; a second nut member engageable with the first nut member and rotatable about an axis; a third nut member non-rotatably but axially displaceably connected with the first nut member, which during rotation about the axis, applies a load to the threaded connector and to tighten the lock nut; and a locking means which substantially non-rotatably connects the second nut member and the threaded connector with one another after tightening the lock nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HYTORC Division UNEX Corporation
    Inventor: Michael F. Dolan
  • Patent number: 9863459
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a fastener lock for engaging a threaded fastener. The fastener lock defines a discontinuous circular opening therethrough with at least one extending tab extending into the discontinuous circular opening. When a threaded fastener is disposed in the discontinuous circular opening, the at least one extending tab engages the threads of the threaded fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kelton Gallant, Barry William Spaulding
  • Patent number: 9863460
    Abstract: A shift cable for transmitting of operation commands to a transmission comprises a cable conduit, an inner cable, a socket and a shift tuning structure. The socket is adapted to attach the shift cable to a housing. The shift tuning structure is provided between the cable conduit and the socket in order to provide a vibration dampening between the inner cable and the socket and to provide a desired shift feeling when the inner cable is transmitting an operation command. The shift tuning structure comprises a stiff, low-density material which is separated from the socket in axial and radial directions through a flexible material, which is thinner than the stiff, low-density material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Linda Karlsson, Thomas Lundahl
  • Patent number: 9863461
    Abstract: In a cable guard structure for a locking mechanism in which a lid hook is engaged with a first swing member to lock a fuel lid, and the locking of the fuel lid is released by a release operation through a cable connected to the side of the vehicle body side locking member, the first swing member is disposed at the general center of a vehicle body. The cable is routed in vehicle in a vertical direction. A cable guide guides the cable. The cable guide is a long tubular member, and is arranged substantially vertically. The cable is passed through the cable guide. Such cable guard structure for a locking mechanism can prevent access to a cable from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Yamauchi, Haruka Tsuda
  • Patent number: 9863462
    Abstract: There is provided a half thrust bearing having a semicircular-ring shape for a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, including a back metal layer and a bearing alloy layer having a slide surface on which thrust reliefs are formed adjacently to both circumferential end surfaces so that a wall thickness of the half thrust bearing becomes thinner from the slide surface toward the circumferential end surfaces. A thrust relief length L1 of each thrust relief extends over a circumferential angle ?1 from the circumferential end surface toward a circumferential central portion, and is constant between an inside end portion and an outside end portion in a radial direction of the half thrust bearing. A flat surface of each thrust relief includes a first region on the circumferential end surface side and a second region on the circumferential central portion side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: DAIDO METAL COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Shiho Tanaka, Motohiko Koushima
  • Patent number: 9863463
    Abstract: A ball joint has a dust cover fitted onto the outer periphery of a socket formed into the shape of a cylinder with a bottom. The socket has a dust cover groove into which a socket-fitting portion of the dust cover is fitted, and a dust cover-recieving surface for supporting a socket-facing surface of the dust cover. The dust cover-recieving surface inclines toward the socket-facing surface while extending from the outer side toward the inner side. Radial projections are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the socket-fitting portion of the dust cover. An axial projection which projects toward the dust cover-recieving surface is formed on the socket-facing surface of the dust cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA SOMIC ISHIKAWA
    Inventors: Masayuki Mizutani, Masaki Sobukawa
  • Patent number: 9863464
    Abstract: A dust cover in which an improvement in sealing performance is achieved. A dust cover 100 used in a ball joint includes a seal main body made of an elastic body and integrally having a body portion 110, a fixed portion 130 that is provided on one end side of the body portion 110, and a seal portion 120 that is provided on the other end side of the body portion 110, and an annular auxiliary seal 150 made of resin and provided in the seal portion 120. The seal portion 120 includes an inner peripheral seal portion and a dust lip 122, and the auxiliary seal 150 includes an auxiliary inner peripheral seal portion 151, an auxiliary dust seal portion, and a supported portion 153 that is supported by a collar fixed to a shaft portion on an opposite side to the auxiliary dust seal portion in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NOK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuro Hosen, Koji Kanagawa
  • Patent number: 9863465
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a slotted entry bearing assembly includes inserting an inner race into a central space of an outer race. The outer race is configured to receive the inner race through at least one slot. Once the inner race is fully inserted into the outer race, it is rotated approximately ninety degrees within the center space, effectively locking the inner race within the outer race. After the inner race is rotated ninety degrees, a molded seal is molded between the inner race and the at least one slot. The molded seal adheres to the at least one slot and is made of a polymeric material. The molding process used to mold the molded seal may be compression molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Rexnord Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel T. Boston, Vivek Chopra, Majid Vigeh
  • Patent number: 9863466
    Abstract: Bearing 10 includes: a half bearing member having an inner circumferential face that slides against an associated shaft, and a plurality of recesses provided in a first end face in an axial direction of the associated shaft; a flange member having a plurality of projections provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of recesses provided in the first end face; and a plurality of staking marks formed in a periphery of each recess when each recess is staked in a state where each of the plurality of projections is fitted to a corresponding one of the plurality of recesses in the first end face to fix the flange member to the half bearing member, wherein a free spread of the half bearing member before the staking is at least 0.2 mm wider than a spread of the half bearing after the staking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TAIHO KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoichiro Tsuboi, Koichi Yatsuda, Atsushi Ueyama
  • Patent number: 9863467
    Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a first race having an arcuate configuration and a first set of bearing elements. The first set of bearing elements is arranged to dynamically contact the first race and recirculate within the bearing assembly in a first direction. A second race has an arcuate configuration and is removably secured to the first race. A second set of bearing elements is arranged to dynamically contact the second race and recirculate within the bearing assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Tri Tool Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Walton, Vinh Hoang
  • Patent number: 9863468
    Abstract: A rod and bracket assembly includes a bracket with a rod connected to the bracket via a fastener extending through a bracket hole. A bushing assembly is positioned at the bracket hole and includes a bushing having a bushing flange and a wear pad positioned between the bushing flange and an inner face of the bracket to prevent wear of the bracket and/or the rod in the event that the rod rolls about its own axis. A clevis assembly for a clevis and rod assembly includes a clevis having one or more clevis legs extending from a clevis base and a bushing assembly located at a clevis hole. The bushing assembly includes a bushing having a bushing flange and a wear pad disposed between the bushing flange and an inner face of the clevis leg to prevent wear of the clevis leg and/or the rod assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Lance Halcom
  • Patent number: 9863469
    Abstract: In a bearing preloading device in which a compression coil spring is used, a hole is defined in a bearing race or in a separate member axially opposed to the bearing race. The hole has an inner periphery constituted by a threaded portion connected to a bottom surface of the hole, and a shallow hole portion connected to an edge of the hole. An inner diameter of the shallow hole portion is larger than an inner diameter of the threaded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9863470
    Abstract: An object is to provide a motion guide apparatus that can facilitate an assembly operation. An end member (4a, 4b) including an inner peripheral side of a direction changing path (2c) is placed on an end surface in a movement direction of a moving member body (3). At least one of a pair of the end members (4a and 4b) includes an opening (21) linking to the inner peripheral side of the direction changing path (2c) to load rolling elements (42) into a circulation path. Opposing surfaces (18) of the pair of the end members (4a and 4b) to the moving member body (3) are formed in flat surfaces. The pair of the end members (4a and 4b) molded integrally with a holding portion (5) is incorporated into the moving member body (3) in a direction orthogonal to the movement direction of the moving member body (3). A lid member (7a, 7b) closes the opening (21) in the end member (4a, 4b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeo Tomita, Junichi Sakai, Nobuyuki Maki, Kaoru Hoshide, Katsunori Yamamura, Muten Iwamoto, Kazuya Horiike, Kenji Narata, Fukuji Nakano, Shigemi Nakamura, Yosuke Irie, Yuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9863471
    Abstract: A spherical roller bearing is provided having an outer ring that includes at least one inner raceway, an inner ring that includes a first and a second outer raceway, a plurality of roller elements disposed in a first and second roller row between the at least one inner raceway and the first and second outer raceway, a cage for one of guiding and retaining the roller elements in the first and second roller row, the cage includes a plurality of cage pockets, in which one of the plurality pf rollers is disposed within each cage pocket. The bearing further provides a specific pitch circle diameter (PCD), and when the cage is under-pitch roller centered in relation to the pitch circle diameter (PCD). In addition, a bearing arrangement and a wind turbine bearing arrangement is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Marcus Loof, Peter James, Lars Stigsjöö
  • Patent number: 9863472
    Abstract: A gravity fed bearing lubrication system for distributing lubricant to powertrain components in a motor vehicle, including a lubricant supply, a bearing, and a bearing housing. A three-dimensional cast-in portion of the bearing housing controls the communication of lubricant to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Goro Tamai, Shawn H. Swales
  • Patent number: 9863473
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a processing method for preparing at least one sliding part of a pair of sliding parts, and includes a processing step of forming a shallow groove within a range of depth from 0.05 ?m to 5 ?m on a sealing face of the sliding part by irradiating an ultrashort pulse laser to a part of the sealing face where a positive pressure generation groove and a negative pressure generation groove are formed and removing part of a surface of the sealing face, wherein an energy fluence of the ultrashort pulse laser used in the processing step is 0.5 J/(cm2·pulse) to 7 J/(cm2·pulse).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hosoe, Shinji Nishida, Koichi Mori, Yuta Negishi, Hideki Kawai, Masatoshi Itadani
  • Patent number: 9863474
    Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly for a vehicle includes at least one rolling-element bearing having a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring defining therebetween a bearing interior, rolling elements disposed in the interior, and a seal assembly for sealing the bearing assembly. The seal assembly includes a sleeve-shaped element connected to the second bearing ring such that the sleeve-shaped element rotates with the second bearing, and the sleeve-shaped element includes a flange that forms an axial stop for the rolling elements. A carrier element is connected to the first bearing ring such the carrier element rotates with the first bearing ring, and the carrier element includes a radially extending annular flange. The radially extending annular flange supports a radially encircling seal having at least one seal lip, and the seal lip extends toward the second bearing ring and sealingly abuts on the sleeve shaped element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Padelis Katsaros, Volker Wendt
  • Patent number: 9863475
    Abstract: A shaft includes a head part having an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of an inner ring and being in contact with a side surface on one axial end side of the inner ring, and a column part extending from the head part toward the other axial end side and having an axial width greater than a bearing. An external periphery of the other axial end portion of the column part is formed with a male screw to be fastened with a support arm. A side surface on one axial end side of the shaft is formed with a concave section to which a tool capable of rotating the shaft is to be fitted. A bottom part of a housing is formed with a through-hole into which the tool can be inserted, at a position facing the concave section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Sakaguchi, Marcos Vilodres Campanha, Anderson Jose Lemes Da Silva
  • Patent number: 9863476
    Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide two advantageous features, which are especially beneficial in combination, but which can be advantageously and beneficially employed independently of one another: (1) firstly, a self-cooling motor bearing system; and (2) secondly, a self-lubricating motor bearing system. In the preferred embodiments, one or both of these two advantageous features are integrated inside an electric motor (e.g., within the electric motor's enclosure housing) in such a manner as to greatly enhance bearing operating conditions (e.g., maintaining adequate bearing lubrication and/or bearing operating temperature) without the use of external lubrication units and/or external cooling units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: James W. Gray, Chetan Channapatana, Sergio Hernandez
  • Patent number: 9863477
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bearing assembly that provides a magnetic sensor; a shaft; and a bearing. One of the shaft and the bearing is provided with a surface having a bearing steel and including a magnetic pattern disposed thereon for indicating a rotation of the shaft relative to the bearing. The magnetic pattern is provided by the microstructure of the surface; and the sensor is arranged to sense the pattern and output a signal indicative of a rotation of the shaft relative to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Hendrik Anne Mol, Babak Hosseinkhani, Hendrik Johannes Krock
  • Patent number: 9863478
    Abstract: A motion guide device (1) includes: a track body that extends in a longitudinal direction; a movable body (20) that is mounted on the track body and is movable along the track body; an encoder scale that is disposed at the track body in the longitudinal direction; a sensor (50) that is disposed opposite to the encoder scale; and a folder (60) that is disposed at an end face of the movable body (20) in the longitudinal direction, houses the sensor (50) in a width direction of the track body, and holds the sensor such that the sensor faces the encoder scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Sakagami